Drapery suspension device



June 24, 1958 3, KING 2,840,159

DRAPERY SUSPENSION DEVICE Filed May 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTORflea/9m I64 BY di Mu;

ATTORNEYS June 24, 1958 B. KING DRAPERY SUSPENSION DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed May 20, 1955 I6 INVENTOR BY MM, @uoww 1 W ATTORNEYS June 24,1958 B. KING DRAPERY SUSPENSION DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 20,1955 INV ENT OR ATTORNEYS w R R 9% M L '1 WM M w. NM l mm w \J km W 1 mfiw United States Patent 2,840,159 DRAPERY SUSPENSION DEVICE-1 BaldwinKing, Albany, Ga.

Application May 20, 1955, Serial No. 509,199 8 Claims. Cl. 160-348 Thisinvention relates to traverse equipment comprising a traverse rod andmeans movable thereon sup portingly attached to the upper portion ofcurtains or draperies, and cord means attached to certain of saidmovable means, the construction and coacting arrangement of the rod andmovable means being such, that when slight force is applied to saidcord, the curtain or draperies are smoothly and silently moved inopening and closing directions, as desired.

Traverse rods and equipment as now constituted present a variety ofproblems, by reason of the rods being clesigned to carry a number ofcurtain supporting carriers or slides, including a pair of mastercarriers adapted to move along the rod in meeting and separatingdirections with respect to each other, and being controlled by a drawcord being attached to each master slide, for moving said carriers inopposite directions: Such cord being mounted in the rod and extendingbeyond; the end of the rod frequently gets hung with some of thecarriers and/ or slides, and locks the curtains from movement in eitherdirection; therefore, an important object of this invention is theprovision of .a rod construction including means for mounting the cordrearwardly of the rod, .thereby eliminating its contact with thecarriers and' eflecting, in such regard, the unhampered, operation ofthe curtains in opening and closing direction.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a hollowtraverse curtain rodhaving a bottom slot extending throughout itslength, a carrier track on the inner surface of the bottom wall adjacentto one side, and an ofiset carrier track on the under side of the topwall adjacent to the opposite side, the respective .carriers havingmeans extendingthroug'h said slot and engageable with said curtain,their construction and engageable contact arrangement with said trackbeing such as to main tain the carriers in perpendicular non-interferingpositions as well as the curtains, at all times during their travel incurtain opening and closing directions. 1 On account of the constructionand coacting arrangement of thev rods and carriers now beingmanufactured, the curtains come into frictional contact with the rod,and frequently one ior the other of, the overlapped cur.- ta'ins-isdragged or caused to move in the wrong direction by movement of theother, andby reason of the construction and'mounting of the carriersthey are caused to as sume positions out of the perpendicular and tobecome locked with each other,-so that the-curtains cannotbe moved ineither direction: Therefore, one of the principal objects ofthisinvention is, the provision of a traverse rod construction, and coactingcarrier construction including anti-friction wheels arranged not only tosmoothly support but to bracingly cause the carriers to remain andtravel. at all times, irrespective of varying weight conditions, inperpendicular positions and similarly supporting the curtains out offrictional engagement with the rod. Y e

A further important object of this invention is the pro- ,oyision of acurtain;carrierv member, of this, character 2,840,159 Patented June 24,1958 having an outwardly and downwardly extending portion provided witha pair of vertically spacedxopenings adapted to receive a curtainattaching pin in a manner to support the curtain engaging portion of thepin perpendicularly spaced from the rod, and which in turn also holdsthe heading of the curtain straight up, thereby preventing the headingbreaking over the .top. 1 3 F A further object of this invention is theprovision. of

a center rod supporting adjustable bracket, including rod engaging jawssubstantially conforming to the shape of the rod and not only designedto support the rod and to.

, prevent its tendency to twist under heavy curtain weight the severalfigures of which:

conditions, but also to serve as a splicer for the meeting ends of rodsections.

.A still further object of this invention is the provision of a traversecurtain rod and pulley supporting an adjustable bracket assembly fordetachably holding, each end of the rod against turning or twisting andincluding means for mounting the draw cord pulleys rearwardly of;

.the end of the rod.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction,combination and arragement of parts, hereinafter more fully describedand claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which likecharacters of reference indicate like parts throughout Fig.- 1 is a topplan view of the assembled curtainrod structure. a i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 3

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of a master carrier or. slide and apartial vertical section of the curtain rod.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the two sections of the master carrier.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the pulleys with the cord in sections.

Fig. 6 is an end view of pulley assembly showing parts in section.

Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the end bracket structure. 9

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of an intermediate carrier.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of an intermediate carrier and a fragmentaryvertical section of the top portion of the drapery in vertical positionas supported by the carrier.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of'the center rodsupporting bracket. a

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of Fig. 10. v v

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention thereisshown in Fig. 1, which is, a traverserod structure comprising acurtain or drapery tubular rod 1 rectangular in cross section having anarrow bottom wall 2 which, midway of its width, is cut, or dividedlongitudinally of its length and with the cut edges 3 bent upwardly,thereby forming a slot 4, a front track 5 and rear track 6 on oppositesides of said slob-which slot extends throughout the, length of thetubular rodl, as and fora purpose A stub section 13 substantiallyC-shapecl in crosssection 4 directly more fully appearing. V t

A .drawcord pulley mounting and rod supportingad justable bracketassembly B (Figs. 5, 6, and 7), is adapted to engagingly support eachend of the traverse rod jA,

each of said bracket assemblies comprising a cup t em 7 is spotwelded orotherwise secured. to the extension. 12,, and is adapted fortelescopieengagement with a similarly shaped intermediate section 14adapted for engagement wr'flrthe mocorfanchor sectioniliof the"bracketassembly' B; The section, 13: informed one.- or'more' apertures,scfionilidt longitudinali sl'utz 1'7 and an. opening: 18... and:sectionrl-fi with a sir'rn'lar; slot: 19," all adapted. to res wi'va'abolt or bolts (not. shown)? tcrlock. the: int'erfitting: parts inadjusted position. in: accordance: with. the desired length of saidrodi'supponting bracketsi R: The anchon'section 15.1is1 formed; with an.integral T-shaped plate 20 having a. pair of; openings 21 and anintegrak rightranglelplate section '22ihavingr three or more: openings23 toreceivevscrews. or other suitable; means. for rigidly mounting thebracket on awall, or side. oruface of a win oc'dioor frame; and;accordance; with the; particular requirements, the intermediate section.14 may be dis with and the. section directly and adjustably secured.toimcmber 15. i i A puil'ey' andidraw cord structure C. is mounted; in.the housing 8 of-each bracketi'assembly' B, and: comprises aofpulle'ys-M rotatably mounted on a shaft pin 25. formed with a screwhead 26 at one end. and, in the pres. ant-instance, threadedat the.other end (not shown). Said pin 25in adapted to extend through thewall". It and to thnead'edly engage in a threaded opening (not shown)inthe': opposite wall 10. Mounted on the: shaft: pin 25 intermediate.the pulleys.,24' and between the pulleys and the walls "andZ 11 arethewashersor' spacers 27 to permit free rotation of the pulleys by adraw cordi28 adapted to travel over the pulleys when operated by aperson desiring t o move-the curtains or curtain in opening and.closing=direction as hereinafter more fully explained.

A leaf spring 29 (Fig. 6) is mounted in theihousing 8; and isattached tothe undersurface of the top: wall; 10

by a rivet pin 30, said spring 29 being curved downwardly-intocontact-'withthe surface of the draw. cord portions in both pulleys, andthen slightly-upward. at its free to: permit freedom of movement of thecord. in both directions, and at the same time to act as a brake. tosufliciently rest'rain the'cord as to prevent loose: stretches becomingtangled. Member 13 is formed atiits' upper ancil'ower edges withcurvedportions: 31.

Where the traverse rod A is more than approximately five fee't in lengtha center support bracket structure D is This bracket not" only supportsthe weight. of the rod and' that of the curtain or draperies carriedtherehgfibu't also is designed'tobrace the rod. 1 and. pre vent itstendency totwist under load stresses. This bracket structure D comprisesa flat or telescopic. section 33 formed with a longitudinal slot-34 andan opening34', and beginning substantially midway of" its length it isformed with a narrow flat portion 35 b'ent upwardly into a loop portion.36 and then extending perpendicularly below the portion 33 forming avertical flat portion 3.7 adapted to seat against a wall w-indow frameor the like,

screw pin 51 extending, through slot 40 for securing the member 50 inadjusted position when the members 46 and 50 have been placed ingripping position about the rod 1. The bracket portion 33, spaced fromthe end of and in alignment with slot 34, is provided with a threadedopening for engaging the end of the screw pin 52 extending through slot40 and the opening in member 33 as at 52 (Fig. 10) for further ri'gidl'yinterlocking in adjusted position members. 33; and? 39..

The apron-like gripping jaw members 46 and 50 conform to theconfiguration of the rod 1 (Figs. 1, 2, ,10 and ll) when in. gripping;engagementtwith said rod, and

5 when the member. 37 isrigidly attached to a wall or the like, willmore efiecti'vely', in addition to supporting the rod, maintain said rodagainst any tendency to twist under the stresses of load conditions.Also, by reason of the construction of the jaw elements 46 and 50, thiscenter rod supporting structure; D, where. two or more lengths of rodsare. required. serves as. a splicer for supporting;

and. housing the:.mccting ends of: the rods, without any modificationwhatsoever.

- Inconnectiorrwiththe rod andcarricr structures lt'Wi'll. be apparentthat the: particular rod. structure as shown in crossssectiorr in Fig;2* is designed to. properly house. and to enact with the particular rodengaging carrier members shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9 to effect thedesired: operating results.

In: the present instance, the area. or opening: to be cur tainedrequires two curtains or draperies, as. the case may: be, their meeting:edges being: adapted to overlap midway of the; area..

Withrespect to the curtain carriers, there is employed apair.of..carrierstructures 53 and. 54 usually termed master carriers.Master. carrier 53. is. termed a left hand carrier and. is. attached tothe. meeting edge of. the left, hand. curtain adjacent to its upper end,and similarly: the; master right hand carrier structure- 54 is attachedto the meeting edge; of the. right handv curtain. The. master carrierstructure 53,.is1irr the form of a bar 55 integrallyconnectedwithacontrol draw cord attachingcarrier member-56 intermediate. its length,and. at one. end with. a

, substantially sirnilar 'carriermember57, the bar. 55 ex-- and formedwith screw receiving openings similar to openings 23 in member 22 ofbracket member 15 for attaching the bracket to a wall or the like.

A complemental section 38 comprising a portion 39 adjustably engages inmember 33 and is formed with a longitudinal slot 40 and a threadedopening (not seen) registering with slot 34, the complemental section 38being adjustably secured to telescopic section or member 33 by a screwbolt41 engaging in said opening. Portion 39 of complemental section 38is formed with angle edges 42 defining a widened portion 43 hourdownwardly as at 44 and inwardly as at 45forming a gripping portion 46.There is provided a complemental' member 47 adapted to underlie member43 and is bent at 48 and at its free end is bent i'nwardly as at 49towards end 45 forming a complementalgripping portion 50 similar to 46.Member 4 7is pr'ovided with a threaded opening (not shown) registeringwith slot 40 in portion 39, extending into porlion- 43gand adapted toreceive the threaded end of a tending beyond carrier 56 and at. its freeend- 58 it is formed with: laterally curved portions 59 provided: withvertically aligned openings 60' adapted to receive the portion 61' of acurtain attaching pin 62 to. maintain the curtain engaging stem portion61" and the curtain inperpendicular position as shown in Fig. 9.

'The right hand master carrier 54 is similar to the master carrier 53andis also formedwith an end carrier member 5'2: anda draw cordattaching carrier member 56,

except the portion projecting beyond carrier member 56,

islonger than: the like portion ofi 53, and comprises an outwardlydirected angle portion 63 and a short inwardly bent portion 64terminating in a free end 6'5f0rmed with laterally curved portions 59having vertically aligned openings 60'- simil'arto: those of the freeend 58- of carrier 53. The end 65 is adapted to be attached tothemeeting edge ofithe right hand curtain, and in closed positiontooverlap said' left hand master carrier 53' (Fig; 1'), as will bewellunderstood.

Since the rod engaging and cord attached carrier members 56 of themaster carriers. 53"and 54 are identical,

' only the carrier member 56 of master carrier 54, as

shown in Figs; 2 and 3, will bedescribed indetail.

The carrier members-56 of themaster'carriers 54 and 55; in' the presenti'nst'ance,;a.re constructed from a- Hat strip 66 of'metal, but maybe ofplastic, such strip 66 being-moulded or bent upon itself, as at 66-,into overlying spaced relation to'form atitsupper end a widened andthi'ckenedhead portion 67 (Figs. '3 and 4) through which extends and issuitably secured the lower shaft member 68 (Fig. 2) on the free end ofwhich is rotatably mounted the relatively large anti friction wheel 69adapted to travelinthe forward track 5 ofrod It A pair of spaced smallershafts or rods 70 are similarly mounted insaid head adjacent to itsupper end and project from the opposite side of the hed, and on the freeends of which are rotatably mounted the small anti-friction wheels orrollers 71 adapted to project slightly 'abovethe head 67 adjacent to theopposite edges thereof for engagement with the flat upper track 72 ofthe top wall 73 which interconnects the vertical side walls 74 of therod 1.

- It will be noted that the traverse rod 1 is not only rectangular incross section, adapted to present a strong structure capable ofsupporting heavy curtains and draperies, but it is additionally designedto house and .to provide spaced tracks at its lower end, the forwardtrack 5 adapted to-support the large carrier wheel69 of the carrier 56of the master carrier 54, and to provide at its upper end the flat undersurface upper track 72 for the spaced small, wheels 71, which latterprovide a track engaging area of a length substantially equal to thewidth of the carrier head 67 (Fig. 3). The flatstrip 66 extendsdownwardly from the head .67 through the slot 4' (Fig. 2), and forwardlyand' downwardly and, in the present instance, merges with the bar 55 asat 75 in advance of the forward wall 74 of rod 1, and thence upwardlyforming a cord attaching section 77, extending to and in spaced relationwith the rear side wall of the rod. A U-shaped member 78 is formed bypressing out from section 77, spacedfrom its upper end, portions whichform the oppositely extending ears or prongs '79 and an intermediateprong 80 to secure the cord 28 to the carrier member 56 of the mastercarrier 54 (Figs. 2 and 3).

The cord 28 is similarly secured to they similar cord attaching'member78 mounted on the-upstanding cord attaching section 77 .of the carrier56 of the master carrier 53. Also it will be, understood that therespective end carriers 57 of the master carriers 53 and 54 areidentical with the carrier members 56, except that they do not have theextending cord attaching members 79 and 80.

The small wheels 71 of the carrier head 67 engageable with the uppertrack 72 (Figs. 2 and 3) present with the supporting wheel 69 a threepoint track engageable contact, the curtain weight or load supportingwheel 69 with the track 5 and the upper offset wheels 71 engageable inopposite and carrier bracing direction with the upper track 72, therebyunder all operating and varying curtain weight conditions, the carrierhead and curtain attaching forward portion as at 75 are at all times inperpendicular or vertical position, and, therefore, when the/pins 62 areoperatively attached to the curtains 81 by their insertion in theopenings 60 of therespective sets of openings in the carrier-members 56and 57 of the master carriers 53 and 54 and of the respectiveintermediate carriers 82, as shown in Fig.9, all of said carriermembers, by reason of the construction of the rod 1 and the constructionand arrangement of the carrier heads 67 and their depending forwardmembers as at 75, the curtains 81 and the upstanding top portions 83thereof will be maintained in perpendicular position without frictionalcontact with the rod 1, and without interference of any kind during thecurtain opening and closing operations.

In regard to the operation of a pair of curtains in opening and closingdirection it will be noted that each bracket assembly B carries a pulleystructure C positioned directly behind the end of the traverse rod 1 andwhich pulleys carry the cord 28. The purpose of the pulleys is to carrythe cord 'at the rear of each end of the rod. This cord should pass overone of these pulleys, go to the other end of the rod and pass overanother pulley on that end of the rod, and return to the first pulleyand pass over the other pulley making the two ends of the continuouscord at one end of the rod. One part of this cord is fastened to member78 on the left hand master carrier, and the other part is similarlyfastened .to the right hand master carrier, causing one carrier, whenthe cord is pulled, to travel to one end of the rod and the othercarrier to travel to the opposite end of the rod in curtain openingdirection,- and oppositely in curtainclosing direction, when the; cordis pulled in the opposite direction, as will be well understood.

surface, a plurality of traverse curtain carriers adapted-to travel onsaid track surfaces, the construction and arrangement of said carriersand tracks being such that.

said carriers, irrespective of the size and weight of the curtains, willbe supported in upright position, said car: riers adapted to maintainthe curtains out of frictional engagement with the rod during theopening and closing operations, and an adjustable bracket rod endsupporting assembly, each carrying a set of pulleys positioned to therear of the end of the rod to support the drawcord, and a center rodsupporting bracket structure, said bracket 'addi; tionally serving as aspliccr means for housingly supporting the meeting end of rod sections.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my:

invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. and referred to inthe above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most efiicientand practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with theadoption of my invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasizethat various minor changes in details of construction, proportion andarrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles ofthis invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by LettersPatent is as set forth in the followin claims:

i 1. Traverse equipment for curtainsand draperies, comprising, incombination, a traverse rod, means within the rod defining a pair ofvertically off-set tracks, one-of which is a bottom track, the other 'ofwhich isanupper track, a pair of curtain-supporting carrier meansmountedin the traverse rod havingva large roller engaging the bottom track anda pair of longitudinally .disposed small rollers engaging the uppertrack, the rollerscoacting with the respective tracks for providingcontinuously a three-' point mounting for maintaining the carrier. meanscontinuously vertical independently of amount of load thereon for.rolling thereon the carrier means beingmovable along the tracks inopposite directions and supportingly attached to-upper portions ofcurtains or draperies, draw. cord means attached to eachcurtain-supporting carrier means for rollably moving each of carriermeans in ope posite directions along the traverse rod, andmeans formounting the cord rearwardly of the said rod for eliminating contactbetween the cord and carrier means for. eifecting unhampered operationof the carrier means and curtains in opening and closing directions.

2. Traverse equipment for curtains and draperies, cont-v prising, incombination, a traverse rod, means in the, rod defining a pair ofparallel vertically spaced and vertically off-set tracks, one of whichis a bottom track, the other of which is a top track, a plurality ofcurtain-supporting carriers slidably mounted in the traverse rod eachcarrier having on one side a large roller engaging the bottom track, anda pair of small rollers on an opposite side engaging the top track, thesaid rollers providing continuously a three-point mounting for eachcarrier for maintaining each carrier continuously vertical independentlyof amount of load thereon, for rolling movement thereon in oppositedirections, the said carriers including a pair of master carrierssupportingly attached to upper portions of curtains or draperies andadapted to move along the traverse rod in meeting and separatingdirections with respect to each other, a draw cord attached to eachmaster carrier for moving the carrier in opposite directions, and meansfor mounting the draw cord rearwardly of the rod and away from contactwith the carriers for effecting unthe'curtain in opening and closing Vof theib'ottom, portions, a curtain carrier track on the inner surfaceof' the bottom portion adjacent to the outer one ofthe sidewalls, an oifset carrier track on the inner side ofthe top portion" adjacent to theside wall opposite to 'tlre'first-mentionedi side wall, a pair of mastercurtain carriers mounted on" thetracks, each of the carriers'havi118". alarge roller engaging the first mentioned track, and longitudinallyaligned small rollers engaging the off-set carrier track andcooperatingwith the large roller for continuously providing a verticalthree-point support for the carrier, means on the carriers engageablewith upper portions of'a curtain for" attaching the curtain tothe car-'riers, the saidcarriersbeing movable along the tracks in rneetingandseparating; directions with respect to each other, the curtain-attachingmeans for the carriers extending through the slot, a draw cord attachedto each carrier for moving the carriers in opposite directions along thetracks, and means for mounting the draw'cord rearwardly of the rod.

4. Traverse equipment for curtains and draperies comprising a hollow,elongated traverse rod having a top defining an outer surface and aninner surface, a pair of complemental bottom portions defining outer surfaces and inner surfaces, upper track means on the inner surface of thetop portion, lower track means on the in-- net surface of-the bottomportions, and opposite side wall membersinterconnectingthe said top andbottom portions ofthe rod; the bottom portions of" the rod beingseparated by a longitudinally extending slot, a plurality of curtaincarrier means having head portions mounted within the rod and curtainhanger portions depending from the head portions and'extending throughthe slot between the bottom portions of the rod, travelinginstrumentalities mounted on the head portions of the curtain-carriermeans, the instrumentalities including a' pair of longitudinally alignedsmall rollers and a large roller on opposite sides of: the headportionsof the said curtain carrier means and positioned with the smallrollers in engagement with the upper and with the large roller inengagement with the lower track means in the rod for continuouslyproviding a three-point support for the curtain carrier means formaintaining and bracing the curtain-carrier means con 1: in combination,ahollow, elongated traverse rod traverse tinuou sly in perpendicularrelation with respect to the ma; andkmeane operatively connected tocertain as the curtaincarri'er means for moving the latter inoppositedireetions. U V

- S; Traverse equipment for-curtains and draperies as claimed in claim4, wherein there are. provided apair of curtain-carrier means dependingfrom'the traverse rod longitudinallyofi set with respect to each otherfor pre ventingcontact between meeting edge portions of curtainssuspendedfronithe curtain carrier means.

6. Traverse equipment for curtains and draperies as claimed inclaim 4,wherein the traveling instrumentalities on the head portions ofthecurtain carrier means are antifriction roller-s extending oppositelyfrom the said headporti'ons and operating' on the upper and lower trackmeans in the traverse adjacent to the inner surface of the side walls ofthe said rod for continuously maintaining the curtain carrier meansperpendicular to the rod andirr relative non-interfering positions atall time during their travel in curtain opening and closing directions.

7'. Traverse equipment for curtains and draperies as defined inclainr 4,wherein the traverse rod comprises anadjustable'rod-supporting bracketdisposed approximately centrally with respect to the traverse rod, thesaid bracket including opposite rod-engaging jaws substantiallyconforming to the shape of the rod, for supporting the rod andpreventing tendencies of the rod to twist under heavy curtain loads, thesaid jaws also being splicing means for meeting ends of contiguous rodsections.

8. Traverse equipment 'for curtains and draperies as claimed in claim 4,wherein the means operatively connected to the curtain-carrier means formoving the latter in opposite directions include adjustable bracketassembliss detachablyholding opposite end of the traverse rod againsttendencies to turn or to twist under heavy curtain loads on thecurtain-carrier means, each bracket assembly including a housing,pulleys in the housing, and a drawcord connected to the curtain carriermeans and passing around the pulleys for simultaneously actuating thecurtain carrying, means in opposite directions for opening and closingthe curtains.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

